As of 2023, water shortage and pollution have reached an alarming level as we’re swiftly falling into a pitless water crisis which inevitably leads to a drought. The outdated infrastructure in Lebanon and the improper treatment of water have only made the issue worse and left more than half of Lebanon’s population deprived of clean water. However, hope is not yet lost with our young entrepreneurs and their big plans to bring about change.

The outdated infrastructure in Lebanon and the improper treatment of water have only made the issue worse and left more than half of Lebanon’s population deprived of clean water. However, hope is not yet lost with our young entrepreneurs and their big plans to bring about change. 

Meet AquaRevive, an initiative led by Prof. Akram Hijazi, a Researcher in Environmental Chemistry and Lecturer at the Lebanese University in Beirut, and 3 of his students from different chemical fields. In AquaRevive’s own words: “AquaRevive Filter is an innovative and eco-friendly water filter dedicated to tackle the alarming levels of water contamination which impose danger on households, underprivileged areas, businesses, and institutions of different kinds.”

Although the market is brimming with water filters, they are too pricey to be afforded by the middle- and lower-income Lebanese household and these often tend to produce a dirty residue, which renders them unsustainable and easily damageable. AquaRevive took these matters into hand and developed their very own sustainable water filter which cleans water by passing through layers of natural and not synthetic elements. "Our filter uses naturally extracted absorbents like shrimp shells, rosemary, and banana stems to purify this contaminated water,” notes AquaRevive.

The team had an idea, but they needed the space and training to put it to the test. That was when they decided to join IdeaLab. The IdeaLab program is run in the North area by INJAZ Lebanon,  in partnership with Berytech and co-funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the ACT Smart Innovation Hub, a comprehensive initiative launched by Berytech to enable the Lebanese entrepreneurial ecosystem and stimulate innovation and startup creation in the agriculture, food, and clean technology sectors.

“We decided to participate in IdeaLab because it provided us with what we needed. We all had a scientific outlook but didn’t know how to develop the startup. We needed to have an entrepreneurial point of view. The guidance and networking opportunities provided by IdeaLab’s mentors as well as the funding were crucial for us to turn our idea into a business,” quotes AquaRevive.

AquaRevive Filter attended extensive training and workshops delivered by expert mentors and startup coaches on the topics of entrepreneurship and innovation. During these sessions, they excelled in portraying analytical skills and an appetite for learning.  They developed a great sense of what it means to be entrepreneurs and a piece of the bigger picture of change towards a greener world.

“This is my first time participating in a program with INJAZ Lebanon, but it has left such a positive imprint and I’m definitely recommending it to others. If I find myself eligible to apply to other programs, I’m doing it for sure,” quotes Celine from AquaRevive. 

As of now, AquaRevive Filter has hands-on prototypes that they are showcasing to potential customers and buyers. They hope to achieve tangible sales real soon!